Pediatric Overview
Illness of your ears, nose & throat can be painful and frustrating, but there's no measure how much worse it is for your young daughter or son. Not only are kids' immune systems less able to fight off viruses and infection but they are constantly in dangerous environments filled with bacteria and germs. This page is the best resource for full, open and easy to understand information on the problem that may be burdening your child. From asthma to allergies, ear and tonsil infections to sinus and breathing we never want to see our kids suffering. That's why this information is here to help educate our patients and our clinic is here to help solve the problem and heal their symptoms.
The research at the government-funded National Institutes of Health and other public-private and university programs is constantly yielding new insight into these age-old problems. New technology and tools are also always in development. Our commitment to you is to keep you in-the-know about the latest developments in all of the head- and neck-related cancers.
Once you feel you've learned what you can, our specialists would love to meet with you and listen to your unique symptoms. We've made it as easy as clicking on one of the options to the right and you'll be starting on the road to better health and happiness.
Ear Infection
An ear infection can be painful enough for adults but for children it can be excruciating. Pediatric otitis media afflicts millions of children each year. But as a parent it's important to know the symptoms of this common condition and available treatment options.
Symptoms & Causes
Your child might have an infection if he or she is suffering an earache, trouble eating or sleeping, high temperature or a liquid/puss draining from the ear. It's important to consult their primary care doctor and possibly an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor immediately if they are suffering severely from these symptoms.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your child's doctor might recommend one of several different options depending on the severity and progression of the infection. Mild cases can heal on their own without the need for a treatment solution such as antibiotics. The use of a warm compress and gargling with salt water are other low-cost remedies your child's doctor might consider. Conversely the physician might prescribe an over-the-counter ear-drop pain reliever or consider the use of antibiotics. Two procedures, tube surgery and adenoid surgery, are also options to consider.
Prevention
Although with children prevention can be difficult it's important to try. The cause of ear infections can be bacterial or viral infections so try to teach kids to avoid germs as much as possible by washing their hands thoroughly and frequently. Make sure kids get plenty of sleep, avoid secondhand smoke and eat healthy.
Further Reading
National Institutes of Health
Tonsil Infection
Infection of the tonsils, tonsillitis, can be painful and sometimes require surgery. However in most cases your child's immune system can fight off infection of the tonsils, which are two masses of tissue at the back of the throat.
Symptoms & Causes
Causes of tonsillitis can be bacterial or viral and are often linked to strep throat. Less common causes include fungi or parasites. Children who breathe secondhand smoke more often require surgical removal of the tonsils, or tonsillectomy, than kids who don't live with smokers. Symptoms of tonsil infection range from throat pain to headache to ear pain and even abdominal pain. If your child complains of difficulty swallowing, has loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting you should see a doctor.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The treatment of tonsil infection will depend on what your doctor finds during your child's office visit. The doctor will take a throat culture or perform a rapid strep test to see if that common and specific bacteria is to blame. When the tonsils are infected by bacteria your child's doctor may prescribe antibiotics and some home remedies to ease symptoms. If a virus is the cause the doctor will likely suggest the following tips to do at home because only the body will be able to heal the infection: Plenty of rest, cold water, smooth, soft food, use of a vaporizer, gargling with warm salt water and throat lozenges. In some cases your child's doctor might suggest a tonsillectomy to remove chronically inflamed tonsils.
Prevention
Teach your kids to wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of the virus and bacteria which cause tonsillitis. Also make sure to keep your children out of contact of anyone with strep throat until more than a day after the sick friend has started taking antibiotics.
Further Reading
Medscape
Airway Problems
Children are just as susceptible to reflux and airway problems as adults, if not more so. However with kids reflux can be difficult to diagnose because typical indicators aren't present or always clear. This is medically called laryngopharyngeal reflux but often referred to as silent reflux.
Symptoms & Causes
In infants and young babies nothing specifically causes the problem other than simply an undeveloped ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. This sphincter must work properly to keep stomach acids from backing up into the throat and sometimes nasal cavity and voice box. Unlike adult reflux (GERD) heartburn often is absent. Common symptoms caused by airway problems in babies are hoarseness, coughing, asthma, breaks in breathing, trouble eating and trouble gaining weight. See a doctor right away if your child is in pain or you think she or he may by suffering airway constriction or reflux.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your child's doctor will examine your son or daughter and may ask you questions about the symptoms. Based on both of these the doctors may recommend smaller and more frequent feedings, keeping your baby upright after a feeding, medications and sometimes surgery. See your child's pediatrician and if needed see an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist for the best advice.
Further Reading
WebMD
Down Syndrome
Pediatric Ear, Nose & Throat problems are common in kids with Down Syndrome because of their facial structure, narrow ear canals and weak immune system. While no one knows for certain what causes Down Syndrome, it's important for parents to realize the health risks associated with a Downs diagnosis and proactively work to prevent many of the common issues that can arise.
Symptoms & Causes
When you first meet with your child's pediatric ENT doctor, he or she might go over many of the common problems that relate to Downs Syndrome. These can include chronic ear infections, upper respiratory tract infections, sinus problems, airway obstruction and sleep problems. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to any of the problems. You and your child's doctor should discuss all the options if these issues become debilitating for your son or daughter. Sometimes surgery can be the best option while a quick in-office procedure or medication might be the better route.
Hearing loss can also be a big concern for newborn babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group recommend audiologic testing every six months up to the age of three. Because educational, language and emotional development are so fragile in children with Downs, and because the ability to hear is extremely critical in this area, even mild hearing loss should be treated immediately.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The diagnosis of a child with Down Syndrome should be performed by a pediatrician or OB/GYN doctor who orders a chromosome test to confirm. Your ENT doctor can work with your child's pediatrician to further diagnose and treat conditions relating to the syndrome.
Prevention
Oftentimes parents can take proactive steps in the medical areas where home remedies are available. Chronic sinusitis, airway problems and chronic ear infections have simple, and easy preventative tips you can take at home to reduce the risk of infection and infirmity.
Further Reading
National Down Syndrome Society
Asthma
Childhood or pediatric asthma is a condition that affects millions of kids across the U.S. and can cause missed school days, discomfort and even hospitalization. It's important for parents to understand the symptoms associated with their child's asthma and the specific triggers that can cause as asthma attack.
Symptoms & Causes
Asthma occurs when the airway swells up from muscles in the neck constricting and blocking the normal amount of air able to pass to the lungs. Causes of the inflammation can be from animal dander, chemicals, dust, mold, pollen and secondhand smoke. Symptoms of asthma can include wheezing, coughing, heavy or labored breathing, chest pain, low energy and weakness.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your child's doctor will try to trace the source of your son or daughter's symptoms. Sometimes this can be difficult because the symptoms of asthma are also common in other conditions frequently diagnosed by pediatricians or pediatric ENT doctors. In kids older than five years lung function tests will evaluate the ability of your child's lungs to take in oxygen. In younger children doctors will rely on the parents for good observation of symptoms that could be tied to asthma. Allergy skin tests might also be performed to rule out allergy-caused asthma. While asthma cannot be cured its symptoms can be maintained through long-term control medications. If frequent and severe asthma attacks occur your doctor will prescribe short-term or rescue medications to be taken before or after a physical activity.
Prevention
It's common for children to develop asthma because of certain risk factors. If any of the following conditions are a factor it's important for parents to lower damage to your child's lungs: Allergies, family history, secondhand smoke and frequent infection. Also be sure to avoid common asthma triggers with young children as they can be more susceptible to developing allergies.
Further Reading
eMedicine
Allergy & Sinus
As parents it can be tough to watch our child fight off sickness but sometimes what we may think is just a cold is really sinusitis, a viral infection of the sinus tissues. This condition can be mild and something the immune system fights off, however, sinusitis can become chronic and require surgery.
Symptoms & Causes
It’s good to recognize the common symptoms of sinusitis which include behavioral changes, cough, tiredness, sore throat, headache, fever, loss of smell and stuffy nose. These symptoms can occur when the mucus lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed due to bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Often time home remedy is the best option because a virus must run its course, however, you should see your child's doctor should the symptoms become painful and worsen or persist for more than a week.
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you see your child's doctor he or she may ask a few questions about medical history and the symptoms, perform a physical exam or nasal endoscopy. The doctor might also take a sinus culture or perform an allergy skin test. Depending on the root cause of your child's symptoms your doctor could offer nasal spray, antibiotics and in some cases nasal steroids. If your child's sinusitis was brought on by allergies, then a allergy immunotherapy shots or drops may be another option. If your child's sinuses become infected more than four to six times per year or last longer than a few weeks surgical options might be the best solution.
Prevention
Preventing sinusitis can be the best way to avoid the misery of the symptoms and treatments. Because sinusitis can be triggered by the common cold, do your best to teach kids to wash their hands, blow their nose properly and sneeze into their shoulder rather than their hands. Avoiding cigarette smoke and polluted air also help to keep your child's sinuses clean and infection free. Using a humidifier is also a good idea also.
Further Reading
Medscape
